Treatment of vasomotor symptoms

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of flibanserin.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/583,275 for Treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms, filed Dec. 26, 2014,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/847,683for Treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms, filed Mar. 20, 2013, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/675,231 forTreatment of Vasomotor Symptoms, filed Jan. 28, 2011, which claims thebenefit of (i) International Application No. PCT/EP2008/062011 forTreatment of Vasomotor Symptoms, filed Sep. 11, 2008, (ii) U.S. PatentApplication No. 60/971,605 for Treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms, filedSep. 12, 2007, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of vasomotorsymptoms associated with the menopause comprising the administration ofa therapeutically effective amount of flibanserin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compound1-[2-(4-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazol-2-one(flibanserin) is disclosed in form of its hydrochloride in EuropeanPatent Application EP-A-526434 and has the following chemical structure:

Flibanserin shows affinity for the 5-HT_(1A) and 5-HT₂-receptor. It istherefore a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of a varietyof diseases, for instance depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety.

Women transitioning through the menopausal frequently experience avariety of symptoms which have been attributed to estrogen deprivationdue to ovarian failure. Menopause is defined as the cessation ofmenstruation in women. The timing of the menopause is determenied withhind sight and is established after twelve months of amenorrhoea. Mostwomen experience menopause between the ages of 40 and 55. Menopausaltransition is characterized by hot flashes, headaches, night sweats,atrophic vaginitis, frequent urinary tract infections, cold hands andfeet, forgetfulness and an inability to concentrate. Emotionalindicators of menopause transitioning include anxiety, distress,irritability, mood swings, depression and decreased sex drive. There aremany undesirable symptoms too numerous to articulate which areattributed to changes in the female body as she transitions through themenopause.

Some of the symptoms, e.g., vulvar and vaginal atrophy can be clearlyattributed to estrogen deficiency; however, hot flashes are likely toarise as a result of an alteration in the CNS thermoregulatory set-pointlocated in the anterior portion of the hypothalamus. Hot flashes, alsoknown as “vasomotor flushes” or “hot flushes” are very common in peri-and postmenopausal women. The dilation of peripheral blood vesselsresults in reddening and warming of the skin during a hot flash. Furthersymptoms such as increased heart rate, night sweats, headaches,dizziness, weight gain, fatigue and insomnia may be associated with ahot flash. Hot flashes may appear prior to the cessation of the mensesand may be the first sign that menopause is approaching. During theperimenopausal period, appr. 75% of women complain of hot flashes. Inmost of these women the symptoms will last appr. 1 year. About one-thirdof postmenopausal women will report symptoms that last up to 5 yearsafter natural menopause, and hot flashes can persist for up to 15 yearsin 20% or more of women. Menopause induced by surgery is associated withabout a 90% probability of hot flashes during the first year, and hotflashes associated with surgical menopause are often more abrupt andsevere and can last longer than those associated with a non-surgicalmenopause.

The US Bureau of Census estimates that currently 49 million Americanwomen are over the age of 50 years. Thus, over 32 million women in theUSA today might have had hot flashes, and up to 6 million might havereported severe symptoms.

Now, experimental results from studies performed in patients with majorDepressive Disorder have shown that flibanserin may be useful for thetreatment of vasomotor symptoms (e,g, hot flashes, night sweats,moodswings and irritability).

Accordingly, the instant invention relates to a method for the treatmentof vasomotor symptoms comprising the administration of a therapeuticallyeffective amount of flibanserin, optionally in form of the free base,the pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts and/or optionallyin form of the hydrates and/or solvates thereof.

In an further aspect, the instant invention relates to a method for thetreatment of vasomotor symptoms associated with the menopausaltransition comprising the administration of a therapeutically effectiveamount of flibanserin, optionally in form of the free base, thepharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts and/or optionally inform of the hydrates and/or solvates thereof.

As vasomotors symptoms do not only occur due to naturally occurringmenopause but may also be also due to surgically (e.g., hysterectomy andbilateral ovarectomy) induced menopause or by the use of medications(e.g. by selective estrogen receptor modulators, GnRH analogues andAromatase inhibitors), or induced by radioation and chemotherapeuticagents, the present invention relates to a method for the treatment orprevention of vasomotor symptoms associated with iatrogenic inducedmenopause, comprising the administration of a therapeutically effectiveamount of flibanserin, optionally in form of the free base, thepharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts and/or optionally inform of the hydrates and/or solvates thereof.

In another embodiment the present invention refers to a method for thetreatment of hot flashes, night sweats, moodswings and irritabilitycomprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount offlibanserin, optionally in form of the free base, the pharmacologicallyacceptable acid addition salts and/or optionally in form of the hydratesand/or solvates thereof.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use offlibanserin for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptomsassociated with a natural or iatrogenic hypogonadal state in men.

Still further aspect of the present invention relates to use offlibanserin for treatment of hot flushes in men, preferably inhypogonadal men, men on androgen deprivation treatment or those whounderwent castration.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to the use of flibanserin,optionally in form of the free base, the pharmacologically acceptableacid addition salts and/or optionally in form of the hydrates and/orsolvates thereof for the preparation of a medicament for the treatmentof any one of the above mentioned conditions. As already mentionedabove, Flibanserin may be used in form of the free base, optionally inform of its pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and/oroptionally in form of the hydrates and/or solvates thereof. Suitableacid addition salts include for example those of the acids selectedfrom, succinic acid, hydrobromic acid, acetic acid, fumaric acid, maleicacid, methanesulphonic acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloricacid, sulphuric acid, tartaric acid and citric acid. Mixtures of theabovementioned acid addition salts may also be used. From theaforementioned acid addition salts the hydrochloride and thehydrobromide, particularly the hydrochloride, are preferred. IfFlibanserin is used in form of the free base, it is preferably used inform of Flibanserin polymorph A as disclosed in WO 03/014079.

Flibanserin, optionally in form of the free base, the pharmacologicallyacceptable acid addition salts and/or optionally in form of the hydratesand/or solvates, may be incorporated into the conventionalpharmaceutical preparation in solid, liquid or spray form. Thecomposition may, for example, be presented in a form suitable for oral,rectal, parenteral administration or for nasal inhalation: preferredforms includes for example, capsules, tablets, coated tablets, ampoules,suppositories and nasal spray.

The active ingredient may be incorporated in excipients or carriersconventionally used in pharmaceutical compositions such as, for example,talc, arabic gum, lactose, gelatine, magnesium stearate, corn starch,acqueous or non acqueous vehicles, polyvynil pyrrolidone, semisyntheticglicerides of fatty acids, benzalconium chloride, sodium phosphate,EDTA, polysorbate 80. The compositions are advantageously formulated indosage units, each dosage unit being adapted to supply a single dose ofthe active ingredient. The dosis range applicable per day is between 0.1to 400, preferably between 1.0 to 300, more preferably between 2 to 200mg.

Each dosage unit may conveniently contain from 0.01 mg to 100 mg,preferably from 0.1 to 50 mg.

Suitable tablets may be obtained, for example, by mixing the activesubstance(s) with known excipients, for example inert diluents such ascalcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or lactose, disintegrants such ascorn starch or alginic acid, binders such as starch or gelatine,lubricants such as magnesium stearate or talc and/or agents for delayingrelease, such as carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate,or polyvinyl acetate. The tablets may also comprise several layers.

Coated tablets may be prepared accordingly by coating cores producedanalogously to the tablets with substances normally used for tabletcoatings, for example collidone or shellac, gum arabic, talc, titaniumdioxide or sugar. To achieve delayed release or preventincompatibilities the core may also consist of a number of layers.Similarly the tablet coating may consist of a number or layers toachieve delayed release, possibly using the excipients mentioned abovefor the tablets.

Syrups or elixirs containing the active substances or combinationsthereof according to the invention may additionally contain a sweetenersuch as saccharine, cyclamate, glycerol or sugar and a flavour enhancer,e.g of. a flavouring such as vanilline or orange extract. They may alsocontain suspension adjuvants or thickeners such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, wetting agents such as, for example, condensation products offatty alcohols with ethylene oxide, or preservatives such asp-hydroxybenzoates.

Solutions for injection are prepared in the usual way, e.g of. with theaddition of preservatives such as p-hydroxybenzoates, or stabiliserssuch as alkali metal salts of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, andtransferred into injection vials or ampoules.

Capsules containing one or more active substances or combinations ofactive substances may for example be prepared by mixing the activesubstances with inert carriers such as lactose or sorbitol and packingthem into gelatine capsules.

Suitable suppositories may be made for example by mixing with carriersprovided for this purpose, such as neutral fats or polyethyleneglycol orthe derivatives thereof.

The Examples which follow illustrate the present invention withoutrestricting its scope:

EXAMPLES

Clinical Trial

In twelve Phase II clinical studies performed in patients diagnosed withMajor Depressive Disorder, more then 1500 male and female subjects agedbetween 18 and 65 years received one or more doses of flibanserinranging from 2 mg to 100 mg b.i.d. A preliminary analysis of safetydatabase in these subjects showed that flibanserin was associated withvirtually no AEs coded as hot flushes/flushing as compared to placebo(1.25%) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (2.1%). (see table1).

TABLE 1 Paroxetine Fluoxetine Flibanserin in mg in mg in mg TreatmentPlacebo 20 bid 50 bid 100 bid 20 qd 50 qd 100 qd 2 bid 20 20 N 718 225521 154 63 64 63 120 275 145 flushing 5 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 2 Hot flush 4 21 0 0 0 0 1 3 2

In Table 1 it is shown that 9 patients of 718 receiving placebo (1.25%),5 patients of 275 (1.8%) or 4 of 145 (2.75%) receiving Paroxetine orFluoxetine respectively suffered form flushing or hot flushes. In starkcontrast, in the group receiving 50 to 200 mg/day Flibanserin only oneout of 802 patients suffered from flushing. These data suggest thatflibanserin is useful for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms like hotflushes in menopausal women.

Examples of Pharmaceutical Formulations

A)

Tablets per tablet flibanserin hydrochloride 100 mg lactose 240 mg cornstarch 340 mg polyvinylpyrrolidone  45 mg magnesium stearate  15 mg 740mg

The finely ground active substance, lactose and some of the corn starchare mixed together. The mixture is screened, then moistened with asolution of polyvinylpyrrolidone in water, kneaded, wet-granulated anddried. The granules, the remaining corn starch and the magnesiumstearate are screened and mixed together. The mixture is compressed toproduce tablets of suitable shape and size.

B)

Tablets per tablet flibanserin hydrochloride 80 mg corn starch 190 mg lactose 55 mg microcrystalline cellulose 35 mg polyvinylpyrrolidone 15mg sodium-carboxymethyl starch 23 mg magnesium stearate  2 mg 400 mg 

The finely ground active substance, some of the corn starch, lactose,microcrystalline cellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone are mixed together,the mixture is screened and worked with the remaining corn starch andwater to form a granulate which is dried and screened. Thesodium-carboxymethyl starch and the magnesium stearate are added andmixed in and the mixture is compressed to form tablets of a suitablesize.

C)

Coated tablets per coated tablet flibanserin hydrochloride 5 mg cornstarch 41.5 mg lactose 30 mg polyvinylpyrrolidone 3 mg magnesiumstearate 0.5 mg 80 mg

The active substance, corn starch, lactose and polyvinylpyrrolidone arethoroughly mixed and moistened with water. The moist mass is pushedthrough a screen with a 1 mm mesh size, dried at about 45° C. and thegranules are then passed through the same screen. After the magnesiumstearate has been mixed in, convex tablet cores with a diameter of 6 mmare compressed in a tablet-making machine. The tablet cores thusproduced are coated in known manner with a covering consistingessentially of sugar and talc. The finished coated tablets are polishedwith wax.

D)

Capsules per capsule flibanserin hydrochloride 150 mg Corn starch 268.5mg Magnesium stearate 1.5 mg 420 mg

The substance and corn starch are mixed and moistened with water. Themoist mass is screened and dried. The dry granules are screened andmixed with magnesium stearate. The finished mixture is packed into size1 hard gelatine capsules.

E)

Ampoule solution flibanserin hydrochloride 50 mg sodium chloride 50 mgwater for inj. 5 ml

The active substance is dissolved in water at its own pH or optionallyat pH 5.5 to 6.5 and sodium chloride is added to make it isotonic. Thesolution obtained is filtered free from pyrogens and the filtrate istransferred under aseptic conditions into ampoules which are thensterilised and sealed by fusion.

F) Suppositories

flibanserin hydrochloride 50 mg solid fat 1650 mg 1700 mg

The hard fat is melted. At 40° C. the ground active substance ishomogeneously dispersed. It is cooled to 38° C. and poured into slightlychilled suppository moulds.

In a particular preferred embodiment of the instant invention,flibanserin is administered in form of specific film coated tablets.Examples of these preferred formulations are listed below. The filmcoated tablets listed below can be manufactured according to proceduresknown in the art (see hereto WO 03/097058).

G) Film Coated Tablet

Core

Constituents mg/tablet Flibanserin 25.000 Lactose monohydrate 71.720Microcrystalline cellulose 23.905 HPMC (Methocel E5) 1.250Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 2.500 Magnesium stearate 0.625

Coating

Constituents mg/tablet HPMC (Methocel E5) 1.440 Polyethylene Glycol 60000.420 Titanium dioxide 0.600 Talc 0.514 Iron oxide red 0.026 Total Filmcoated tablet 128.000

H) Film Coated Tablet

Core

Constituents mg/tablet Flibanserin 50.000 Lactose monohydrate 143.440Microcrystalline cellulose 47.810 HPMC (e.g. Pharmacoat 606) 2.500Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5.000 Magnesium stearate 1.250

Coating

Constituents mg/tablet HPMC (e.g. Pharmacoat 606) 2.400 PolyethyleneGlycol 6000 0.700 Titanium dioxide 1.000 Talc 0.857 Iron oxide red 0.043Total Film coated tablet 255.000

I) Film Coated Tablet

Core

Constituents mg/tablet Flibanserin 100.000 Lactose monohydrate 171.080Microcrystalline cellulose 57.020 HPMC (e.g. Methocel E5) 3.400Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 6.800 Magnesium stearate 1.700

Coating

Constituents mg/tablet HPMC (e.g. Methocel E5) 3.360 Polyethylene Glycol6000 0.980 Titanium dioxide 1.400 Talc 1.200 Iron oxide red 0.060 TotalFilm coated tablet 347.000

J) Film Coated Tablet

Core

Constituents mg/tablet Flibanserin 2.000 Dibasic Calciumphosphate,anhydrous 61.010 Microcrystalline cellulose 61.010 HPMC (Methocel E5)1.950 Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 2.600 Colloidal silicon dioxide0.650 Magnesium stearate 0.780

Coating

Constituents mg/tablet HPMC (Methocel E5) 1.440 Polyethylene Glycol 60000.420 Titanium dioxide 0.600 Talc 0.514 Iron oxide red 0.026 Total Filmcoated tablet 133.000

K) Film Coated Tablet

Core

Constituents mg/tablet Flibanserin 100.000 Dibasic Calciumphosphate,anhydrous 69.750 Microcrystalline cellulose 69.750 HPMC (e.g. MethocelE5) 2.750 Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5.000 Colloidal silicon dioxide1.250 Magnesium stearate 1.500

Coating

Constituents mg/tablet HPMC (e.g. Methocel E5) 2.400 Polyethylene Glycol6000 0.700 Titanium dioxide 1.043 Talc 0.857 Total Film coated tablet255.000

L) Film Coated Tablet

Core

Constituents mg/tablet Flibanserin 20.000 Lactose monohydrate 130.000Microcrystalline cellulose 43.100 Hydroxypropyl Cellulose (e.g. KlucelLF) 1.900 Sodium Starch Glycolate 4.000 Magnesium stearate 1.000

Coating

Constituents mg/tablet HPMC (e.g. Methocel E5) 2.400 Polyethylene Glycol6000 0.700 Titanium dioxide 1.043 Talc 0.857 Total Film coated tablet205.000

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for the treatment of vasomotorsymptoms associated with menopause comprising the oral administration toan adult human patient in need of such treatment of one or more capsuleor tablet comprising a therapeutically effective amount of flibanserin,or a pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt, hydrate orsolvate, thereof, and at least one excipient, wherein said vasomotorsymptoms are selected from the group consisting of hot flashes, hotflushes, night sweats, mood swings, and irritability.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the vasomotor symptoms are hot flashes orhot flushes.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vasomotorsymptoms are night sweats.
 4. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe vasomotor symptoms are mood swings.
 5. The method according to claim1, wherein the vasomotor symptoms are irritability.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein menopause is naturally occurring.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein menopause is surgically induced. 8.The method according to claim 1, wherein menopause is iatrogenicinduced.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein menopause isassociated with the use of medication, radiation, or chemotherapeuticagents.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flibanserin isadministered as a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition saltselected from the salts formed by succinic acid, hydrobromic acid,acetic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, methanesulphonic acid, lacticacid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, tartaric acid,citric acid, and mixtures thereof.
 11. The method according to claim 1,wherein the patient is a menopausal woman.
 12. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the patient is a postmenopausal woman.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the patient is a perimenopausal woman. 14.The method according to claim 1, wherein the amount administered is inone capsule or tablet containing between 0.1 to 400 mg per day offlibanserin.
 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the amountadministered is in one capsule or tablet containing between 1.0 and 300mg per day of flibanserin.
 16. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe amount administered is in one capsule or tablet containing between 2and 200 mg per day of flibanserin.
 17. The method according to claim 1,wherein the amount administered is in one capsule or tablet containingbetween 0.01 to 100 mg per day of flibanserin.
 18. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the amount administered is in one capsule or tabletcontaining between 0.1 to 50 mg per day of flibanserin.